But the White House says talks of the "total denuclearization of the peninsula" do not extend to US weapons systems - a defense umbrella covering South Korea which includes nuclear-armed submarines and strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear bombs not based on the peninsula. "So far, the readout from these meetings has been positive, and we'll continue to move forward in them".

"President Trump and I believe Chairman Kim is the kind of leader who can make those kind of decisions, and in the coming weeks and months, we will have the opportunity to test whether or not this is the case".

A pair of US delegations have held talks this week with their North Korean counterparts at the Korean demilitarized zone and in Singapore. There's a very good chance that it won't be done in one meeting or two meetings or three meetings.

"We made real progress in the last 72 hours towards setting conditions" needed to finalise plans for a Trump-Kim meeting, tentatively planned for June 12 in Singapore, Pompeo said in a briefing at the Lotte New York Palace hotel, part of the South Korean conglomerate Lotte Group.

North Korea conducted a series of missile tests and nuclear detonations previous year, which led to the imposition of additional United Nations Security Council resolutions meant to isolate the country economically. Still, Pompeo said he doesn't yet know whether the meeting will proceed on the announced date of June 12 and that he believes North Korea's leaders are contemplating a different path forward that would allow their nation to more fully integrate into the global community.

The usually secretive Kim Jong-un has given a glimpse behind North Korea's political veil by allowing news cameras inside the nation's parliamentary building during his historic meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Washington wants North Korea to quickly give up all its nuclear weapons in a verifiable way in return for sanctions and economic relief.

Privately, there is increasing acknowledgment in the administration that any disarmament will not be immediate but could take years, and will require U.S. concessions along the way - a step-by-step process that some senior White House aides have previously rejected, citing North Korea's history of reneging on its promises.

Since time is of the essence, American officials have held preparatory meetings with North Korean delegations in both Singapore and the demilitarized zone, the border area separating North and South Korea, in the past few days. But his comments Thursday come at a sensitive moment, when a senior North Korean official was in NY for talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the planned summit.

US-ally South Korea and North Korea have technically been at war for decades, even though the Korean War's military combat ended in 1953 because a peace agreement was never signed. The White House said the were scheduled to have a full day of talks on Thursday.

RELATED NEWS

Trump mulls commuting Blagojevich's term, pardoning Stewart
The president, who has never met D'Souza or spoken to him, last night called him on the phone to inform him about his decision. D'Souza in 2012 released an anti-Obama film, " 2016: Obama's America ", based on his 2010 book, " The Roots of Obama's Rage ". 6/01/2018

Brigitte Nielsen pregnant with fifth child at age 54
Nielsen is the mother of four adult sons (including one with ex-fiancé, former National Football League player Mark Gastineau). Last week she was photographed hiding her baby bump under a white top as she enjoyed lunch with Dessi in Los Angeles. 6/01/2018

NBA Finals 2018: Warriors Win Game 1 Despite LeBron's Heroics
James scored 51 points , the sixth 50-point game in NBA Finals history, and also added eight rebounds and eight assists in defeat. Smith's moment of madness was described as "one of the most ridiculous things we've sever seen" by one ESPN commentator. 6/01/2018

India will keep trading with Iran and Venezuela: India FM
According to the External Affairs Ministry, India-Iran bilateral trade during the 2016-17 fiscal was $12.89 billion. As for Saarc minus Pakistan , she said the South Asian bloc would not remain a grouping if a country went out. 5/31/2018

US to impose limits on some Chinese visas
Trump is also under pressure from Congress to stay tough on China, especially Chinese telecoms-equipment maker ZTE Corp. However, the big risk is that Beijing won't have any confidence in Ross to make a deal that Trump will accept. 5/31/2018

Moon, Kim hold second summit in Panmunjom
He said there is a "lot of good will" and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula would be "a great thing". Kim Yong Chol served in the military police in the demilitarized zone on the border of the two Koreas. 5/31/2018

Kim Kardashian to visit White House to discuss prison reform
Kardashian will not be bringing the camera crew for her reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians , according to Vanity Fair . The meeting will take place following two American criminal justice developments at the White House over the last few weeks. 5/30/2018

Kerr: 'We would've won the series in five if Andre played'
Even if it just gives their defense something to think about, James needs all the help he can get - a common theme in this series. Another member of the Cleveland supporting cast whom James so badly needs to perform, Thompson is the number one interior option. 5/30/2018